We have all been injured emotionally at one time or another, in one way of another – hurt by family, friends, business colleagues, news media, politicians or whatever – and the bitter urge to strike back becomes our first reaction.

Perhaps you had a late night when you were on a date and found yourself on lover’s lane. There is kissing and maybe touching. You wonder how far this is going to go. What was your greatest fear?

Most people would say it was getting caught. What if someone recognized the car you were in? What if blue lights started flashing? What if someone you knew, like your dad, showed up to shine a light in the car and see what was going on? What does God think?

Slowly but surely, I am making progress on the unpacking of my new house. Because the packing was done quickly, there isn’t much rhyme or reason to the contents of many of the boxes. A left shoe here, a random charger for some electronic gadget there, it’s all rather hodge podge.

Appreciation takes courage and resolve. It’s the high road and not everyone is willing to take it. When you choose thoughts of valuing and gratitude as your primary way of being, you are turning off the road well traveled. You are saying no to blame, to resentment, to revenge, to violence in any form, from bad-mouthing others, to kicking the dog, to berating a person. You are saying no to victim-hood, to martyrdom, to passing the buck, to criticism and to demeaning yourself or others.

In our home of 15 years we have an acre of grass and vegetation which I love tending. It’s my therapy and I learn a great deal from the yard I manage.
Each season, grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees let a part of themselves go in the form of seed, every one of which is a point of life containing the full potential of the parent. In the quest to find a rooting spot, they are buffeted by winds, parched by the sun and soaked by rain. And they often encounter cement or stone rather than fertile soil.

Last week I got to experience one of the great adventures in my life.
I was able to take my boy scouts on a 120-mile canoe trip on the Au Sable River in Michigan. Scouting has allowed me to travel all over this country to experience the most amazing adventures.

For the past ten days, Australian Sam’s mum and friend Leah have been visiting us from down under. Sam will be with us for six more weeks, but the others began their journey back to the other side of the world yesterday.